Dallas Cowboys Blog

Drew Pearson on Dez Bryant restrictions: ‘I don’t like it’; ‘Why can’t he become a man?’

The Original No. 88 sounded genuinely disgusted when he talked Monday about the off-the-field guidelines that have been placed on Dez Bryant.

Drew Pearson, the former Cowboys wide receiver that was added to the Ring of Honor in November, said he doesn’t believe in setting rules for an adult who plays in the National Football League, something he’s never heard of before this situation.

Pearson says that the rules don’t prepare Bryant for his life after football, which could begin at any time given the violent nature of the game.

“I don’t think this situation is a good situation as far as Dez is concerned,” Pearson told the G-Bag Nation show on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. “I don’t like it. It’s a grown man. He’s 23-years-old. A grown man has to be restricted and told what to do? You’re supposed to be a professional.

“You’re playing in a multi-billion dollar industry, for one of the most recognized sports franchises in the world, and you can’t be a man and be mature enough to handle that yourself? You have to be told when to be in. You have to have people go with you. You have to have people drive you to practice and make sure you’re in the right place at the right time.

“The thing about that, that might help Dez right now as far as getting him and what the Cowboys need from him and keeping him out of trouble, but as soon as the Cowboys are done with him or the NFL is done with him, all these things that they’re doing for Dez right now are not going to help him in life after football. And that’s my biggest concern.”

Pearson said the restrictions placed on Bryant prove that the Cowboys believe the former first-round pick is immature. Bryant is the same age as rookie wide receiver Cole Beasley. Pearson questioned why Beasley doesn’t need a set of rules but the other 23-year-old receiver does.

“Nobody’s talking about Cole Beasley being immature or Cole Beasley needs people to be with him and all this kind of stuff,” Pearson added. “I’m saying, why can’t Dez adjust to this? Why can’t he become a man?”